Who's Afraid of Carolyn Aird?
Ding!
The doorbell’s sound echoed in the now empty store as the last customer left the premises.
As much as she loved her job, Carol was thankful to have a little break. The blonde had tried to be as accommodating as possible since the customer had a child with her. The child’s cheerfulness was contagious. With her yellow flowy dress and toothless smile, it surely had brought such brightness to the otherwise dull store.
As the two left, the blonde couldn’t help but follow them with heavy eyes. Everything seemed still and mundane to her. She lingered at the glass door longer than expected, wondering whether her life would always be like this: an endless rotation between work, home, work, home.
This wasn’t her normal state. Carol Aird had always been a woman of beauty and elegance. Anywhere she went, heads would turn to her, whether she was aware of it or not. The blonde looked like a goddess with her blue eyes, pointed nose, and prominent cheeks. She was brilliant in every way and the epitome of womanhood.
She just missed her daughter so much and seeing that kid didn’t help her situation.
Sighing defeatedly, Carol turned over the shop’s sign, indicating that they had closed already.
She co-owned this business with her best friend Abigail Gerhard. Their record store “La Pavilion” was the city’s hidden gem. They offered a unique selection of new, used, rare music as well as autographed records. Their store was plastered with vintage film posters and album covers. The high ceiling window let natural light come in through the space making it well lit all the time. The ambiance was welcoming and peaceful, just like the good old days. It was a breather to have such space where you could turn back time and appreciate the aesthetics of the 1950s. There even was a listening room where you could try out their record players and listen to some music.
Carol adored her job, but today, she felt very tired and drained. Her blue eyes roamed around, meeting her best friend’s concerned ones. She looked like a disarray; a contrast to what she would normally look like every day. With her beauty, she could have been a model if she had wanted to, but she had chosen to follow what her parents had planned for her.
“Hey, slugger, how are you feeling?” her friend came up to her and tried to lighten up the mood.
Instead of answering her question, the woman said, “Abby, what is it like? Being with a woman, I mean.”
“Look at you! All curious and eager to learn. Are you finally ready to discover the power of pussy?” her friend teased.
“God, Abby! I’m just asking, why can’t you just answer the damn question?”
“Don’t get mad at me, I’m just teasing you. Besides, you know I’m gonna support you if you decide to finally explore your sexuality. I’ve seen how you look at women. You’re just too scared to move forward because of your parents. And to answer your question, it is the best thing I’ve ever experienced. I thank God every day for making me a lesbian.”
After her divorce from Harge, her parents practically disowned Carol. They wouldn’t accept a damsel in distress to their family. The woman’s failed marriage was a disgrace to them.
“You are insufferable!” Carol threw the pen she was holding at her friend.
Studying Business Management and Organizations at NYU only had one perk. There, she had met her best friend Abby. At first, the two women hadn't gotten along well and the ever-fierce Abby had considered Carol as a competitor with equally powerful intelligence and charm as hers. The young lady was beautiful and brilliant in every aspect, but young Abby wasn’t going to back down that easily. After learning Carol’s story, the two gradually became friends and had become inseparable ever since. The brunette was Carol’s soul sister, her lighthouse, her beacon. They knew everything about each other. Carol had been there when Abby had first met Julie and she even had encouraged her friend to woo the woman. Abby had been there when Carol married Hargess Foster Aird. She had witnessed the rise and fall of their relationship. Only one good thing came out of their marriage, her sweet and loving goddaughter Nerinda Elise Aird.
Even though Abby annoyed the hell out of her, the blonde was grateful to have her in her life.
“How are the twins anyway?”, it was Carol’s try of changing the topic
Abby seemed to have bitten the bait “Oh, they’re great. Such sweet beings! Although I feel like a walking machine, it’s all worth it. And Julie is such a doting mother. I bet it’s all because she’s in her mid-30s only. God, I can’t believe I’m nearing 50 already but have two toddlers as my children.”
“When will you have Rindy again?”, the brunette suddenly asked.
“She’s still with Harge until next week. He bought her a puppy which will just make her want to stay at the Airds even longer”, she exasperated.
“That kid adores you so much, Carol. No dog or any animal will take her away from you. Harge respects your time with her so he wouldn’t sabotage your bond with your daughter.”
Abby was right. Harge wouldn’t do such a thing. Even though their relationship had already ended, they were civil with each other and they both wanted what was best for Rindy.
“Besides, you can use your free time to get laid. When was the last time I saw you go out for a date? It must be so dry down there, Carol. Get some action!”, the older woman bantered.
“Stay out of my blue business, Abby. Just so you know, I have two skillful hands and your Christmas gift is still with me, so it’s definitely not dry down there,” she wistfully answered.
The conversation made Carol wonder. Maybe she really was destined to be with a woman. After all, she hadn’t had much in her past relationships with men and her marriage with Harge hadn’t worked out as her parents had hoped for. Maybe it’s time to finally explore my options, I’ve always felt something different for certain women but just was too scared because of my judgmental parents, the blonde considered.